Willie Randolph's former players didn't exactly shed tears yesterday at the Mets manager's unexpected late-night firing. Several of the most prominent Mets appeared to welcome Randolph's departure because it meant an end to the constant and feverish speculation about his future.
"It was a huge distraction," third baseman David Wright said before last night's game with the Angels. "It seemed like he was always on the hot seat. Even when we won, we had to answer questions about the manager's future." Added center fielder Carlos Beltran: "It was tough to stay away from the papers and concentrate on baseball . . . ." Continue
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